Boot tree or last



April 27,1926.'

J. E. PERRAULT ET AL BOOT TREEI'OR` LAST Filed May 14 2 Sheng-Spee?. 2

1 A i i l l l l l wf w mld - L a .Wm

Patented Apr. 27, 1926.y

v i,5s2,i43

JOSEPH E. PERRAULT AND LOUIS J'. SCHROEDER, WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS TO HOOD RUBBER COMPANY, OF

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

VATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A.

BOOT TREE OR LAST.

'Appiication inea May 14, i925. Sel-iai No.y 30,275.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH E. PERRAULT `and Louis J. SOHROEDER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Vatertown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainnew and useful 'Improvements in Boot Trees or Lasts, of which the following is aV specification. j

Our present invention-relates to improvements in boot trees or lasts of the type used in the manufacture of rubber boots, and aims to provide a simple, economical and eflicient article in which the toe piece will be securely held to the main body or leg portion during manipulation and bootmanufacture, but can be readily unlocked to permit removal of the last.

- The invention further aims to provide a construction in which-the means` utilized for unlocking the toe port-ion will also function, toadmit fluid under pressure between the last andA boot whereby the latter will bey blown or forced free from the last to facilitate withdrawal. j

VVith-these and other objects in view the invention ycomprises the novel features of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, my said invention being defined by the claims appended hereto. .i

In order that the invention may be better understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is acentral vertical section through a tree or last.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail. Fig. 3 is a view showing the last with a boot thereon in side elevation (partly broken away at the top) with the actuating valve applied thereto.

Fig. 3a is a detail sectional view of the valve in starting position.

Fig. y4 is a detail view of the valve in side elevation viewed at right angles to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a modified form of valve.

Fig. 5L is a similar view showing the valve of Fig. 5 in starting position.

Referring by reference characters to these drawings the toe portion of the last is designated l and. .the main body (including leg and heel portions) 2, these being made hollow as shown.

The juxtaposed or cooperating faces of the toe section body portion are preferably made of substantially inverted L shape as indiwhich mayconv'eniently be formed as a plate orv bar member litt-ed in a groove or recess in the wall of the toe member and secured therein by rivets 5 though if desired it could be formed as an integral part of the toe section.`

This flange or rib lits in a correspondingly arranged groove or chan el in the ,juxtaposed face of the inainleg j ortion ofthe last y i as clearly shown iii Fig. 2.

The horizontally turned upper end of the rib 4 has formed in its upper face a recess 4d which receivesa project-ion? carried by the leg port-ion, such recess being preferablyfof semi-circular formation and` the projection being formed by a rivet member extending through an opening in the leg portion and having one half the portion thereof inline j p with the slotV projecting into the groove or channelto form the. key. The lower end of the rib or flange member 4 is projected lateryally towards the heel of the last as indicated at 4EL and the upper edge of the offset portion is provided with recess 4b designed to receive andl cooperate with retaining member in the shape of a transverse pin or rivet 6.v

The rib or flange 4 is provided with a keeper recess 4c in the edge facing the leg portioii'wliich is adapted to be engaged by a rlatch member or dog 9 which may conveniently be mounted to have oscillating movementon apivot ypin l1. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l it will be readithe latch with the recesses 4b and 4d in lockvly seen that the toe section is securely locked ing engagement with the pins 6 and 7. l

VvVl'vithdrawal of the latch 9 will, however,

have a rectilinear movement, said rodhavj inga lengthwise slot lla into which a portion of the latch projects, said project-ing portion being provided withl a transverse pin 13 which engages a slotI 9n 4in the latch member.

Downward movement oit therod towards the sole ot the last will rock the latch on its pivot and withdraw it trom locking` engagement with the keeper slot in toe section. The upper end ot the rod llis preterablvv guided in the bore 19L ot a` hardened sleeve 19 carried bjv the top portion of the last such sleevebeing' provided .with lateral ports 19" tor a purpose hereinafter described, and the upper end ot the rod projecting` slightlyv above thcseports when the parts are in lockingv positionasshown in Fig'. 1, said upper end Fitting the bore with a substantially air tight lit wherebj7 the rod ,l-l will tunction as a piston il: fluid pressure is applied to the bore as hereinafter set lorth.

The lower end ol thexrod 1Ll`is slidably held Yina recess in the lower end ot' the last, conveniently in a substant-iallj cylindrical projection or hollow stud 2a. end otthe rod is preferably .provided Vwith a reduced portion 14h which is surrounded bythehupper portion oit' a coiled compr sion spring 18 the lower.end-oft` which bears against a. removable screw plug 21. ,This springnormallyv holds the rod elevated and the latch .in locking position, but downward movement otl the rod willrocltitlie,latch lo unlock the. toe section as will be readily apparent.

'.llhefrod could be readily operated mechanically by the use or" anyisuitable push tool, but we prefertovprovide pneumatic means such tor Aexample kas vthat, iwhich willy now he described, referring` to o, o

and l as the air pressure after operating the loc-ki b' means enters` between the last and the boot and assists in stripping' thelatter.

designatts a. valve casing' orbodv which has a cylindrical vlzorefQS which slidinglj' receives a valve member 2st, which hasan annular groove or channell connnunicatiupr `by one( ormore radial ports 2lb, withan axial bore or air` passage 24C? open at its lower end. .A pipe Q5 desiguedto be connected torni' suitable source of iluid under prezsurey (not shownl is connectedthrough a suitable port with the annulark channel El andwith the parts in the lposition,shown in Fie .il tluid. under pressure [would be lree ow into the space 19%A abovethe upper cud olirod. 1l Fig'. 1) and force the latter downward to unlock the last. Ylllhtni the rod has been moveddown tol unlocking` position portsy 1U are uncovered which allows the pressure tlnid to enter the interior ot the last. rlhis iinds its waj; throughthe parting* line 5 into the space betwcenthe boot and lastand blows the former fr last^ therebjY itS fc ilitating ready removal.A

rl`he lower Y the valve and i'rom, which a hammer piston ill),

e trom the Normallyv the valve is held closed as shown in Fig. 3 to prevent theI escape ot air or other Vfluid by compression spring 26 conlined between the upper end ot the valve body and an annular llange 28 which may he rigidly connectedto member 2l, conveniently by forming' said tlange on a sleeve i. shaped projection or hook member 32 wlncrl is designed to be engaged by a corresponding projectiontl carried by the valve member near the lower end thereof. B v inte-rengaging these projections and alignthe lower end et the valve nien'iberwith the bore 19 and thereafter bearing` down on the toe o'i the last inthe direction of the arrow Fig. 3, thelast will lirst liulcrunron the interengaging projections 32-33 to align .opening 19 wit-h nipple 2y and ette/ctan air tight connection byreason ot' pressure on packinglg, and jlurther downward pressure `will draw theY valve member 2l downward from the positionot Fig. 55 to that ot, Fig. to bringl` the ports 25 and 2% in alignmentY` admitting coinpressct. air or other fluid in the manner and ior the purpose already set forth,

To convenientljv enable the last to be unlocked mechanically in case of stickingor failure of lair supply, `we provide the Valve body with an elongated projection Si' ot a size and length to enter the bore 1.9 and act as a mechanical pusher for the rod lil, so that. b3.' aligning here lin with projection 2:37 andy merely pushing' ou the last unlocking will bc elliccted.

This provides a mechanical locking device which cannet be misplaced b v the operator.

1n the modilication shown in Figs. and 5 we have disclosed. means wherebyl a pucumatic hammer action may bc given to rod 1l to overcome airvsticking;Y ot the parte: ln this lorm the valve casing` 73K is provided with two air supply pipes and Z5-l' and bodj' Qi'r" made ot cylinder form at its upper cnil and provided with an axial bore at'its lower end within which wor-lts' projects the stem $10 ol -Normallv spring` :MSK holds `valveinemlei- Zelf withr the annular port out or" cominunication with suppl,A pipejo Ki-(see Fig. 5a) and with port i in `coinniunication with supply pipe no" lltl whereby air enters the interior of the vvalve member 24X (piston chamber therein) in iront ot or below the piston member 39 forcing it upward until arrested by stop 54e. The air or liuid above or back ot' the piston exhausts through v*port to atmosphere. Now supposing the valve member Qll to be pulled forward by application ot the last in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. inclusive, air supply pipe 25X is cut oli' from the piston chamberY while air pipe Qy is connected therewith by port Q-ly, the stop member 5d moving torward with the valve member so as to cause the upper tace ol the piston member 39 to he just below the port Qty .as illustrated by the position of the stop 5d in Fig. 5. Air is therefore admitted above or behind pis; ton member 39 driving thelatter forward, the air in front ot or below thepistonexhausting through port 56. Noair can es cape from the piston chamber into the boot tree until the lateral-'port 39" has passed below the lower end ot thevalve bore as shown in Fig. 5, which is after the hammer action has occurred.

By bei Qlx may be allowed to return to the position of Fig. 5 which returns the han'imer to upper or starting position in readiness to repeat the operation on thesame last it necessary, or it the last is removed the parts are set in positiontor operationen a Afresh last.

llt the last tails to unlatch a slight release ot' the pull on the last will allow valve meinber 24X to move upward sutliciently 'to cut ed" air-from pipeQy. This will bring annular port 24J in communication withV air pipe 25x, Fig. 5a' and through the radial port or ports admit air to the front of piston 39 which will move back oi upward until arrested by stop 54, yat which time the lateral port 39" will be covered and escape ot vair to the hollow interior of the last prevented.

It now the last is again manipulated so as to move cylinder member 24X forwardly air will be cut ott from pipe 25X and admitted trom pipe 2W to the rear of the piston which will be driven forward to deliver a hammer blow.

lVe claim:

l. rThe combination with a boot tree or last having a detachable toe section and meansrtor releasably holding said toe section to the last body, of iiiiidpiessure means ltor simultaneously operating said releasing means and admitting air under pressure between the boot and lastV for blowing the :toi-mer clear of" the last.

Q. The combination with a tree or last having a detachable toe section, latch means tor holding` said toe section` to the vlast body, rectilinearly movable rod operatively releasing the pull on the tree the meinconnected to` said latch means, said last having a tubular ybore in its upper end in which theupper end of said rod tits, and means for supplying iiiiid under pressure to said vtubular bore. y

3. The combination with ra hollow tree oi last having a detachable toe section/and means for releas'ably holding saidjtoe see i tion 'to the last body, of guides at the top and bottom of said last body, a iod recti linearly inovabiein said guides, said upper f diate the aforesaid recesses, a latch member movably carried by` the leg section and Y adapted to engage said recess, and means operaible from the top oit the last 'for ing said latch member.

5. In combination, a last comprising a leg section and aV toe section, saidl toe section actua thavin a nro'ectinfi' rib at the Jai-tine line C i D C* and disposedin the lengthwise plane ot the last and provided with vangularily arranged upper and lower ends projecting iny oppo-` site directions, said ends being provided with upwardly opening recesses, saidleg section having a groeve to receive said rib provided with lugs to vengage said recesses, the

said rib havingaleeper recess interposed between said upwardly opening recesses, a latch member movably carried by the leg section to engage said recess, and means operableup'rom the top of the leg sectiontor actuating said latch member.

1G. In con'ibination a last comprising a leg section and a. toe section, said' toe section having a projecting rib at the j'iaitiiig line and disposed in the lengthwise plane ot the last and, provided with angularly' arranged upper ends projecting in opposite directions, saidv ends being provided with upwardly opening recesses, said leg section vhaving a. groove to receive said rib provided with lugs to engage said recesses` .the said rib having a keeper recess interposed between said upwardly opening recesses, a latch member pivspring tending'normally to pressfsaid rod, iii direction to hold thelatcli in toe-l ,eli-n Ote-d to said leg` section and adapted to cngage said keeper recess, a rectilinearly movvable rod operatively connected with said latch member, guides at the upper and lower ends oit the .last for holding said rod', a.,

ing p'ositiomsaid upper. guide having :inV open upper end tor enabling the application ot rod actuating means.

7. In combination a last. comprising a leg section and a toe section havingl a. parting line ot substantially inverted L-shape, said toe section having a rib projecting centrally 'from its parting' -face in the vertical plane of the last which rib has horizontally reversely projecting upper and loivcr ends provided With upwardly opening recesses, said leg section having in its parting 'tace a groove to receive said rib and lugs to engage said recesses, said rib having a dovvn- Wardly facing abutment on its vertical tace a latchfmember carried by he legsection for engaging said abutment, and means operable `from the top ot the last for actuating said latch member.

S. '.lfhe combination with a last comprising i said holding means, said lee' section having a tubular recess in which the upper end oi said rod is guidethand a supply valve for fluid under4 pressure ,having a nozzle to it said tubular recess, said supply valve being normally closed to its source of supply and including means whereby it is opened on pressure being applied to the last.

l0., rl'he combination with a last comprising a leg section and toe section with means i-or detachably holding them together, of means for releasing said holding means comprising a plunger rod operatively connected to said holding means, said .leg section having a tubular recess in ivhich the upper end of said rod is guided, a. stationary valve casing adapted vtor connection to a source ot fluid-pressure, a valve' movable in -d casingand normally held in cut oif position, said last and said movable valve having neans for detachable connection.

1l. The combination ivith a last comprising a leg` section and toe section with means 'for detachably holding; themy together,v ol means for releasing said holding means comprising a plunger rod operatively connectedY 'to said holding means, said legl section having a tubular recessin which the upper end or said rod is guided, a stationary valve casadapted forV connection to: a source. of fluid pressure, a reciprocating valve movable the locking meansq in said casing., a spring normally retracting said valve to cutv oit' posit-ion, said valve having an outlet nozzle to cooperate With said tubular recess, and said last and said valve having intra-locking` members olf set :from said valve nozzle in the direction of the toe ot the last.

l2. The combination with a last comprising a leg section and toe section with means for. detachably holding. them together, ot

means ttor releasing said holding means comprising a plunger rod operatively connected to said holding means, said leg section having a tubular recess in which the upper end oi said rod is guided, a` stationary valve casing adapted l'orconnection to a source ot liuid pressure, a reciprocating valve movablein said casing, a spring normally retracting said valve to cut oli position, said valve having an outlet nozzle to cooperate with said tubular recess, and said last and said valve having' interlocking members oil'- sct from said valve nozzle in the direction ot the toe olt the last, said stationary valve casing having' a projection adapted to enter the tubular recess in the last to actuate the plunger mechanically in case oi! sticking.

13. ln combination, a last comprising a leg secticn and a toe section, detachable locking means between them by which the leg section can be detached troni the toe section, means 'for releasing the locking means, and a connection between the last and the releasing means for operating the latter when the last is moved, substantially as described.

ll. vln combination, a last Comprising a leg` section and a toe section, detachable locking means betvveen them by which the lea' sect-ion can be unlocked from the toe section, a rectilinearly movable rod in said leg` section for releasing said locking means, a contact member adapted to contact With said rectilinearly movable rod, a support b v which said contact member is carried, and a detachable pivotal connection betiveen the last andsaid support upon which the last may 'Fulcrum to enable said rectilinearly movable rod and Contact member to be brought into engagement.`

l5. ln combination, alas-t con'iprising a leg` section and a toe section, detachable l ching means between them by which the leg ser.-- tion can lie detached Atrom the toe seinen` finie pressure sup lying means 'for releasing and a pivotal connection between the r'luid pressure supplying means and the last .vhereby the last may be seated against said lluid pressure supplying means, said Huid pressure supplying means be: .g controlled by a movement ot the last, after the same is seated thereagainst, substantially as desired.

16.111 combination, a last having a body l'section-.andv a toe sectionvrith a detachable connection between them rele'a-sable by iluid lll() pressure, means for supplying fluid pressure, including` a valve, a support for the last on which it may swing, said last when swung on said support first seating against the fluid pressure supply means, and by a further movement operating the Valve to supply the fluid pressure, substantially as described.

17. In combination, a last comprising` a leg section and a toe section, detachable locking means between them, fluid pressure means for actuating' said locking,` means, a stationary valve casing, a valve slidable therein for controlling fluid pressure, and

having a part for contact with said fluid pressure operated means, and a detachable pivotal connection between the last and the valve casingv arranged to one side of' the said contact part, whereby the upper end of the last may be seated against the lower end of the said valve to'receive lluid therefrom for operating said fluid pressure actuated means, whereby the last may be swung on said pivotal connection to actuate the slidable valve to admit fluid pressure to said fluid pres sure actuated means.

Y 1S. In combination, a valve for supplying` fluid pressure, a last having a toe section and a body section, means for detachably locking said sections together, said looking means being detached by fluid pressure supplied through said Valve, and means whereby the movement of thelast body in the direction of its longitudimil axis will' operate said valve, substantially as described.

19. In combination, a last having,` a toey section and a body section with detachable means for holdingthem together, and fluid pressure ope'ated means for releasing the detachable means, and means for supplying .fluid pressure controlled by the movement of the last inthe direction of its longitudinal axis, substantially kas described.'

20. In combination, a last` haying a toe section anda body section with detachable means for holding'them together, fluid prese,`

means, and means for automatically controly 'img the supply of fluid pressure by moving the last, said fluid pressure exhausting to the interior ofthe last and thence out between` the last and the boot thereon, whereby the boot lis blown for strippingfrom the last, substantially as described. A v

In testimony whereof, we affix our signaturesQ JSEPH E. PERRAULT. LOUIS J. SGHROEDER. 

